Patents by Inventor Micky Harris

Micky Harris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250027811
    Abstract: A pixel disclosed includes an anti-blooming injection transistor (DI) transistor under the control of a BDI amplifier/transistor combination. The “turn on” of the anti-blooming injection transistor is offset from the turn on of the BDI transistor by an offset. When the offset is overcome, excess charge can be diverted (iDiverted) away from an integration capacitor. This can allow the BDI transistor/amplifier combination to hold the detector at nominal bias over an extended range and may reduce blooming. The pixel can be implemented in manner that adds a second transistor and a capacitor to prior BDI designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Micky Harris, Angelo Gregory Scott Gilmore
  • Publication number: 20250027989
    Abstract: An interface BIT failure detection circuit includes a sequencing circuit and a multiplexer. The sequencing circuit configured to generate the sequence selection signal. The multiplexer is in signal communication with the sequencing circuit, and includes a plurality of interface input. Each interface input corresponds to an interface of a device under test. The sequence selection signal is configured to control the MUX to sequentially select each of the interface inputs. The MUX includes an output terminal configured to output a test signal configured to indicate whether or not at least one fault corresponding to one or more of the interface inputs or a main power supply exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Micky Harris, Magathi J. Willis
  • Patent number: 12203808
    Abstract: A pixel disclosed includes an anti-blooming injection transistor (DI) transistor under the control of a BDI amplifier/transistor combination. The “turn on” of the anti-blooming injection transistor is offset from the turn on of the BDI transistor by an offset. When the offset is overcome, excess charge can be diverted (iDiverted) away from an integration capacitor. This can allow the BDI transistor/amplifier combination to hold the detector at nominal bias over an extended range and may reduce blooming. The pixel can be implemented in manner that adds a second transistor and a capacitor to prior BDI designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Micky Harris, Angelo Gregory Scott Gilmore
  • Patent number: 11626445
    Abstract: A pixel includes a photo-diode, an integration capacitor arranged to receive a photo current from the photo-diode and to store charge developed from the photo current; and an injection transistor disposed between the photo-diode and the integration capacitor that controls flow of the photo current from the photo-diode to the integration capacitor, the injection transistor having a gate, a source electrically coupled to the photo-diode at a first node, and a drain electrically coupled to the integration capacitor. The injection transistor is a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) FET having its gate set to a SONOS gate voltage to control a detector bias voltage of the photo-diode at the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric J. Beuville, Micky Harris, Ryan Boesch, Christian M. Boemler
  • Patent number: 11561132
    Abstract: A pixel includes a detector that changes its operating characteristics based on incident energy, an integration capacitor arranged to discharge stored charge through the detector based on changes in the operating characteristics, and an floating gate injection device disposed between the photo-diode and the integration capacitor that controls flow of the charge from the integration capacitor to the detector. The floating gate injection device has a gate, a source electrically coupled to the detector at a first node, and a drain electrically coupled to the integration capacitor. The gate has a control voltage (VT) stored therein to set to a per-pixel bias gate voltage to control a detector bias voltage of the detector at the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric J. Beuville, Micky Harris, Ryan Boesch, Christian M. Boemler
  • Patent number: 11284025
    Abstract: A digital pixel includes a capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) coupled to a photodiode that receives an electrical charge and output an integration voltage. An integration capacitor coupled to the CTIA accumulates the integration voltage over an integration period. A comparator compares the accumulated integration voltage with a threshold voltage and generates a control signal at a first level each time the accumulated integration voltage is greater than the threshold voltage. A charge subtraction circuit receives the control signal at the first level and discharges the accumulated integration voltage each time the control signal at the first level is received from the comparator. An analog or digital counter receives the control signal at the first level and adjusts a counter value each time the control signal is received from the comparator. An output interface communicates the counter value to an image processing circuit at an end of the integration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Neil R. Malone, Micky Harris, Adam M. Kennedy, George Paloczi, John L. Vampola, Christian M. Boemler
  • Publication number: 20210381888
    Abstract: A pixel includes a detector that changes its operating characteristics based on incident energy, an integration capacitor arranged to discharge stored charge through the detector based on changes in the operating characteristics, and an floating gate injection device disposed between the photo-diode and the integration capacitor that controls flow of the charge from the integration capacitor to the detector. The floating gate injection device has a gate, a source electrically coupled to the detector at a first node, and a drain electrically coupled to the integration capacitor. The gate has a control voltage (VT) stored therein to set to a per-pixel bias gate voltage to control a detector bias voltage of the detector at the first node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Eric J. Beuville, Micky Harris, Ryan Boesch, Christian M. Boemler
  • Publication number: 20210377470
    Abstract: A digital pixel includes a capacitive transimpedence amplifier (CTIA) coupled to a photodiode that receives an electrical charge and output an integration voltage. An integration capacitor coupled to the CTIA accumulates the integration voltage over an integration period. A comparator compares the accumulated integration voltage with a threshold voltage and generates a control signal at a first level each time the accumulated integration voltage is greater than the threshold voltage. A charge subtraction circuit receives the control signal at the first level and discharges the accumulated integration voltage each time the control signal at the first level is received from the comparator. An analog or digital counter receives the control signal at the first level and adjusts a counter value each time the control signal is received from the comparator. An output interface communicates the counter value to an image processing circuit at an end of the integration period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Neil R. Malone, Micky Harris, Adam M. Kennedy, George Paloczi, John L. Vampola, Christian M. Boemler
  • Patent number: 11134208
    Abstract: Digital circuitry is provided that periodically reads at least one bit of digital counters associated with pixels of an image sensor. When the read bit(s) of a particular digital counter decrease between subsequent reads, then the digital circuitry increments an overflow counter associated with the particular digital counter. The value of each of the overflow counters of the digital circuitry are used with the corresponding values of the digital counters to generate pixel values for a frame (also referred to as an image).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Micky Harris, Roya Mokhtari, Juliette Costa, Joseph Costa, Eric Beuville, John Devitt
  • Patent number: 10911705
    Abstract: A digital pixel circuit includes a unit cell configured to accumulate an electrical charge during a frame. The electrical charge is proportional to a light intensity of a light signal that is detected at a location in a field of view of the unit cell. An image processing unit is in signal communication with the unit cell. The image processing unit is configured to determine a total charge based on a plurality of accumulated charges over a plurality of sequential frames, and to determine an indication of the light intensity of light at the location based on the total charge. The unit cell is configured to operate in a first mode to accumulate the electrical charges over the plurality of sequential frames, and a second mode to perform a calibration operation that calibrates the unit cell based on the electrical charge accumulated during a single frame among the plurality of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Batinica, Elina R. Glaretas, Micky Harris
  • Patent number: 10879291
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) stack is provided and includes a capacitor layer and an integrated circuit (IC) layer. The capacitor layer includes capacitors and capacitor layer connectors respectively communicative with corresponding capacitors. The IC layer is stacked vertically with the capacitor layer and is hybridized to a detector. The IC layer includes IC layer connectors respectively communicative with corresponding capacitor layer connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Neil R. Malone, Sean P. Kilcoyne, Micky Harris
  • Publication number: 20200382733
    Abstract: A digital pixel circuit includes a unit cell configured to accumulate an electrical charge during a frame. The electrical charge is proportional to a light intensity of a light signal that is detected at a location in a field of view of the unit cell. An image processing unit is in signal communication with the unit cell. The image processing unit is configured to determine a total charge based on a plurality of accumulated charges over a plurality of sequential frames, and to determine an indication of the light intensity of light at the location based on the total charge. The unit cell is configured to operate in a first mode to accumulate the electrical charges over the plurality of sequential frames, and a second mode to perform a calibration operation that calibrates the unit cell based on the electrical charge accumulated during a single frame among the plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Batinica, Elina R. Glaretas, Micky Harris
  • Publication number: 20200168651
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) stack is provided and includes a capacitor layer and an integrated circuit (IC) layer. The capacitor layer includes capacitors and capacitor layer connectors respectively communicative with corresponding capacitors. The IC layer is stacked vertically with the capacitor layer and is hybridized to a detector. The IC layer includes IC layer connectors respectively communicative with corresponding capacitor layer connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Neil R. Malone, Sean P. Kilcoyne, Micky Harris
  • Publication number: 20200066781
    Abstract: A pixel includes a photo-diode, an integration capacitor arranged to receive a photo current from the photo-diode and to store charge developed from the photo current; and an injection transistor disposed between the photo-diode and the integration capacitor that controls flow of the photo current from the photo-diode to the integration capacitor, the injection transistor having a gate, a source electrically coupled to the photo-diode at a first node, and a drain electrically coupled to the integration capacitor. The injection transistor is a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) FET having its gate set to a SONOS gate voltage to control a detector bias voltage of the photo-diode at the first node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Eric J. Beuville, Micky Harris, Ryan Boesch, Christian M. Boemler
  • Publication number: 20190059776
    Abstract: A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chambers, John L. Vampola, Micky Harris
  • Publication number: 20190059775
    Abstract: A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chambers, John L. Vampola, Micky Harris
  • Patent number: 10213127
    Abstract: A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chambers, John L. Vampola, Micky Harris
  • Patent number: 10213126
    Abstract: A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chambers, John L. Vampola, Micky Harris
  • Patent number: 10130280
    Abstract: A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chambers, John L. Vampola, Micky Harris
  • Publication number: 20160331265
    Abstract: A system including a detector array configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a target object, the detector array having one or more detectors is disclosed. The system also includes a readout integrated circuit and one or more processors. The readout integrated circuit has a circuit comprising a number of detector boundary selection components, each one of the number of detector boundary selection components configured to select or adjust a detector boundary from least one of a sub-column boundary or an adjustable boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew D. Chambers, John L. Vampola, Micky Harris